Sign-displaying device



May 8, 1923. 1,454,582

. w. A. GARRITT ET AL SIGN DISPLAYING DEVICE Filed July 19, 1920 2Sheets-Sheet l l?! I A L L 29 ATTQRNEYS.

May 8, 1923.

W. A. GARRITT ET AL SIGN DISPLAYING DEVICE Filed July 19, 1920 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 8, 1923.

name stares artisan earner entice,

WILBUR A. GARRITT AND JAMES H. ENGEBRIGTSON, OF SIOUX CIT OWA.

sleet-DISPLAYING nnvron.

Application filed July 19, 1920. ,Serial No. 897,251.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, VVILBUR A. GARRITT andJAMES H. ENGEBRIGTSON, citizens of the United States, and residents ofSioux City, in the county of \Voodbury and State of Iowa, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in SignDisplay1ng Devices, of whichthe following is a speclfication.

Our invention has for its primary object the production of amechanically operated device for successively displaying sign cards. Afurther object of the invention is the production of such a device whichoperates automatically and dependably, unattended. A still furtherobject of the invention is the production of a device of this class,thoroughly efiicient and dependable in operation, yet simple andinexpensive in both construction and operation.

These and other objects and advantages we successfully attain in theembodiment hereinafter described, defined in the appended claim andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, which form a part of thisapplication and in which like characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts throughout the several views, of which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a device, constructed in accordance withthe invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same with the front of the caseremoved and parts cut away, and Fig. 3 is a transverse section of thesame.

Although we have illustrated and hereinafter described but one form ofthe invention, we would not be understood as being limited to thisspecific construction, for various alterations and modifications may bemade in the details of construction and arrangement of parts disclosedwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as definedin the appended claim.

Referring, now, to the illustrations, the superstructure of the devicepreferably consists of a casing, including a floor, 4, an upright rearwall, 5, and an inclined front wall, 6, having an intermediate opening,7, through which the signs are revealed as will presently appear.

8 are the side walls of the casing, and within the lower portion of thecasing and adjacent the said side walls are positioned sprocket or beltwheels, 9, carried by a shaft, 10, journaled in the side walls. The saidwheels, 9, are connected, respectively, by

sprocket chains, 11, or belts, with small sprocket-wheels, orbelt-wheels 12, positioned a distance above the wheels, 9, and rotatablysupported by the walls, 8. The chains or belts, 11, are inter-connectedby a transverse rod, 13. 14- are sign cards positioned between thechains and provided, a distance from their upper edges, with lateralstuds, 15, preferably provided with heads, 16. 17 are rearwardlyinclined rails, suitably mounted on the walls, 8, to engage the studs,15, to normally support the cards and permit them to gravitaterearwardly, as will later be made more clear.

Adjacent their lower edges the cards are provided on their backs withhooks, 21. Be tween the rear leads of the chains, 11, extends across-member, 18, suitably suspended as by hangers, 19, which dependfrom the guide rails, 17, the said cross-member, 18, being so positionedthat upon it ma Y rest the lower edge of the rearmost of the idle cards,14, and the rear ends of the guide members, 17, are provided withsuitable stops, 20, engageable by the studs, 15, to prevent displacementof the rear card.

On the backs of the cards, a short distance above their lower edge, arehooks, 21, so p0- sitioned that when the belts are driven in thedirection indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3, those of the rearmost of theidle cards will be engaged by the cross-member, 13, to carry such cardupwardly to the position indicated at 14 forward tilting of the cards inthis position being prevented by virtue of engagement of the studs, 15,behind the rear upright edges, 22 of guide-members, 23, suitablysupported by the walls, 8.

Th front edges of the guide members, 23, are declined forwardly as at24, and their upper end portions are curved rearwardly adjoining therear edges, 22, at points, 25. As the rod, 13, approaches the highestpoint of its travel, the upper edge of the card fulcrums against therear wall of the casing, and as the rod moves forwardly and downwardlyas shown at 14 the studs, 15, pass over the points, 25, and slidablyengage the front edges, 24, of the guides, 23. As the movement of thechains continues, the card is permitted to gravitate to the positionin-. dicated at 14 in which position it is visible through the opening,7, of the casing, and is supported by a cross-member, 26. As the cardapproaches this position, the studs, 15, slidably engage guide-members,27 and finally ero em perils-A,

other, endless chains interpau's, a rod lnterconnectmg "0d, display ardsnorn'aelly pone" 1g one i1 ent of another and protect fiis w, oh lateralprojections slidubly enforce '90 1e rails to normally support we re ae1,. pport for the warmest card, and d' be backs of the can-(1sengegeeble iron i Is Me succeson the .3 f o L q l to 211? and iheforemow I "e, eupport operation :1, e cards for display; the cards. entof the rod from Around the opening v "Fr s02 prove? ing em?- 1 hendisplayed, the

h gym the precedin support and permi" ions to slidably engage the rails.

lony 'whvyeo'f, we hereunto ters A. 'ent of the United States, is:

" l i-eh day ofJuly, 1920.

A displev device consisii g of :1 suitable T GARRETT. frame, F0 pairs ofWheels POSElQHfid one like Jami;

